September 17, 2009

Reporters Notebooks

Don Williams, Lubbock Avalanche-Journal: Good news for Texas
Tech. Saturday is International Talk Like a Pirate Day. "I think that
definitely has the potential to be a good omen for us," Mike Leach
said, tongue in cheek. "So really, I think on behalf of our program, we
feel very confident as a result of that."

Bob Wojnowski, Detroit News: Michigan is only really good if Notre
Dame is really good, and we don't know if Notre Dame is really good at
all. We do know Charlie Weis got full of himself
(not easy to do) and called too many passes late in the game, then
explained his strategy by pointing out the officiating was lame.

Pete Thamel and Thayer Evans, New York Times: Tim Tebow, Colt McCoy and Sam Bradford long ago gave up any expectations of a normal college life. In the era of social networking sites, being the big man on campus no longer means being the life of the party.

Ivan Maisel, ESPN.com: Is there such a thing as a coaching "fit," or is it merely another word for success? Thanks to Mike!

Andy Staples, SI.com: Welcome to Grove City, Ohio, where the local school district has decided to cut sports. "This community is going to die," Grove City High football coach Matt Jordan said. "That's the big fear."

Mark Alesia, Indianapolis Star: NCAA president Myles Brand, 67, who
died Wednesday after a battle with pancreatic cancer, made good use of the bully pulpit.

Courtney Linehan, Lubbock Avalanche-Journal: Brand's reign was full of turmoil.

John Hunt, Oregonian: It appears LeGarrette Blount, suspended for the season, is staying put. Oregon's director of compliance, Bill Clever, said that he has not heard from the NCAA about any possible waiver that would allow Blount to play elsewhere or to gain another year of eligibility.

Jonathan Kealing and Scott Rothschild, Lawrence Journal-World: The Kansas Board of Regents not only approved a $34 million addition of high-dollar seating on the east side of Memorial Stadium, it praised the proposal.

Ryan Finley, Arizona Daily Star: Tight end Rob Gronkowski, Arizona's best player, will miss his third consecutive game Saturday at Iowa because of a lower back strain.